For commuters by commuters!

What’s worse than a crummy commute to/from the city? The fact that can be easily avoided, if only you had the right timely info.

Well, now you do:CleverCommute.com, a NJ-based startup, lets you use your mobile messaging device (Blackberry, iPhone, smartphone) to share real-time alerts regarding your commute. The data will also appear on Hoboken411 as soon as riders share their alerts.

It’s not a social network… and it’s not chatty and time-wasting. Rather, it’s the straight-forward way to get the inside scoop from people making the same trip as you. You get advice and updates… from your fellow travelers… ONLY when there is a problem.

How it works:

Sign up at the website (details below), and you are given the single address used by you and your fellow commuters. Then, if anyone sees a problem, they fire off a quick message which is delivered to the entire group. More often faster than the standard “Alerts” you might get, CleverCommute can be the difference between you arriving relaxed at work, or stressed out and frustrated.

Founder Josh Crandall started it based on his very frustration with his NJ Transit commute… and it has since grown organically to a network of roughly 5,000 commuters across the tri-state area (and beyond). For commuters on PATH, LIRR, NJ Transit, Metro-North, several bus and ferry lines… it’s become part of the daily fabric of the commute.

For PATH – click on the box next to “Select provider type”… and select “Light Rail w/PATH”

For the 126 bus – select “Commuter Bus”

Follow the instructions and you’re on board! (You can sign up for multiple routes)

Additional exciting features are currently in development, and will be announced when ready for beta testing!

Important: Power in numbers

The single most important aspect of this service is the more riders per line that sign up and participate, the more reliable it gets. You’d certainly appreciate it if you could find out before you get on that bus whether you’ll be sitting in the tunnel for an hour, wouldn’t you? Like one big happy family, it’s one commuter helping another.

So sign up to either the one of the PATH lines, or the 126 bus line – and let’s start helping each other out! That’s what a community does best, right?

You haven’t used it – so you’re mistaken… it’s not like an annoying Facebook status update where everyone is telling you what fucking song their listening to (like who gives a shit?)

If the tunnel is stopped dead – a “good Samaritan” commuter will say that – and other folks who have yet to get on the bus can make other decisions. It’s not like people will repeat the same message over and over.

Don’t sign up if you anticipate getting annoyed, and have a negative attitude. There are thousands of other commuters on various lines elsewhere who find this service invaluable.